Chương 21: ~°~Chapter Twenty-one~°~

"Hayden!" My mom's voice interrupts my thoughts and I shake myself, quickly finishing up with brushing my hair.

I had woken up really early this morning with a slight feeling of confusion, like I was forgetting something. But even though I was up early, I seem to have lost track of time, well either that or my mom is reading the microwave again instead of the clock.

"I'm coming!" I yell back, picking up my backpack from where it says beside my study table.

The weather is warmer today so I wear a very thin sweatshirt, I'll soon have to go back to short handed tops and shirts if this keeps on - it isn't my favorite kind of outfit because I feel like my arms are too skinny.

I pick up Apple from her basket on my way down, she yawns a little and winks open one eye to check who's lifting her, once she confirms who it is, she promptly falls back asleep in my arms.

She's getting bigger but she's still a kitten and even though I know she can get up to my room all by herself, I'd made it a routine to always take her down with me whenever I'm going down to breakfast.

I sit at the table, raising an eyebrow as my mom places a bowl of cereal in front of me. "None of your spectacular failures today?" I ask, already digging in.

She makes a face as she quickly placed a bowl of milk on the table for Apple - she did it quickly because the first time I brought the kitten to breakfast, she dunked her entire head in my cereal bowl trying to get to milk.

"You complain when I cook for you and you also complain when I don't." She pouts. "Try making up your mind, would you?"

I look at her in amazement. "When have you ever taken my feedback?" I ask her. "All you do is listen to what I say then let it hit your face and fall to the ground." I sass.

"Ouch! That's a horrible thing to say to your mother." She places a hand over her heart.

"What can I say?" I shrug with a mouthful of food. "The truth stings."

She just levels me a look then slips off her apron. "I need to get my keys so I'll drive you to school, your friends say that they'll meet you there." She informs me, already walking away.

I continue my meal, absently watching Apple lap up her milk with tiny kitten licks, I'm not the biggest fan of cat food and neither is my mom but we might need to buy some soon so that she isn't underfed.

I hope I'll see Virgil and Dale today, Dale hadn't been in school for the past two days, he didn't come over either so I'm a little worried.

Virgil was around but I barely saw him, we have lots of free periods on Wednesdays so I'm looking forward to seeing him, nevermind that the free periods are after gym.

I mentally die a little, I'm pretty sure it comes off as no surprise that I hate sports. It's not my fault really, trust me, it's very hard to like something that you're terrible at.

My mom comes back out in a skirt and my worry mounts, my mom never wears skirts. She says she feels like she's in a plastic tube and if she makes a wrong move, she'll trip and fall, sprawling on the ground. First she gives me cereal straight up without attempting to cook and now she's in a skirt, what's going to come next? The bloody apocalypse?

"Mom?" I call her as we start for the car, Apple is fast asleep again and I had dropped her on a pillow.

"Hmm?" She hums, opening the car.

"Should I be worried?" I ask, getting in the front beside her.

"Huh? About?" She looks at me, pausing in her action to slip the key in.

"Well let's see." I tap my chin in a playful manner, like I'm thinking deeply. "First you give me cereal and now you're in a skirt? Like an honest to God full skirt, not even a mini one, like you're a secretary in a convent. Is something wrong?"

She looks in my direction at my outburst, then she bursts out laughing. "You're just precious!" She gasps, putting the car in gear.

"Well." She shrugs. "Virgil has been blowing up my phone because he made some stupid bet with Dale that both of them can't come to your house until they do something or the other so I figured that the faster I get you to school, the sooner I'll get some peace. He's killed my phone twice now."

I gape at her explanation, that was the furthest thing from my mind. "They did that?" I mumble, still trying to wrap my head around it.

Here I was, getting worried and worked up when the real reason I haven't seen them is because of a … bet??!

"But that doesn't explain why you're in a skirt." I look at the dull, black pencil skirt she had on.

"I honestly don't remember putting this on." She says matter of factly and I'm lost.

"Excuse me, what?"

"Pretty much what you heard me say, I don't even remember buying this skirt." She gestures down with a hand and I simply give up.

"Take care okay?" She says to me when we arrive at Pine Creek High, kissing my forehead.

"Yes Mom." I reply cheerily, slipping on my backpack. My mood has improved now that I know that all my friends are fine.

"Burn that skirt." I advise her, already making my way out.

She pouts at this. "I actually like it."

I give her an affronted look but start off across the parking lot when the bell rings, a particularly loud 'bye baby!' from her has me cringing but I quickly forget about that as I join the throng of students milling in.

I keep my head down, not wanting to attract attention to myself, news of what happened between Tyrone and I was still in the air. That's why I wasn't even extremely devastated that Virgil and Dale kept their distance for the past two days that I resumed, because the publicity would have killed me for sure.

Whispers start up and I'm tempted to lift my head up but my anxiety spikes when I think that they might be talking about me.

"Elise and her crew…"

"Have you heard the news…"

"Dance…

"The new guy…"

Whispers reach my ears but I can hardly understand what they're saying but at least I don't think I'm the centre of attraction.

I sidle up to my locker and start to put in the combination, if the hallway is in an uproar like this, Virgil would have been surrounded so most likely he was on the roof with Shana.

It's still pretty early but the school is already full, I'm curious about what is going on but I can't bring myself to look up from my feet. It's a good thing I know the way to the roof like the back of my palm because there's nothing in my line of sight except legs and shoes.

As I start up the stairs a malicious voice cuts through the noise.

"Get out of my way loser! Have anyone seen Virgil?"

I don't wait to hear the replies if there are any, already hurrying up to the roof.

I get there with my heart in my throat, only to get snatched from my feet and pulled into someone's arms.

I let out a short scream, closing my eyes in terror."Oh my god!" I gasp, panting.

"Calm down Hay, it's just me." Virgil's soothing voice pierces through my haze and I blink open an eye.

"Virgil?" I open my eyes wide. "Why did you grab me like that?" I accuse, still recovering from the shock. He's hugging me so hard that my sneakers leave the ground, looking at me intensely.

"Fine, you win." Dale's irritated voice comes from behind Virgil. "You can put him down now."

"Hard pass." Virgil scoffed. "Don't be a sore loser, Dal."

I just roll my eyes, trust them to come up with something like this. "I can't believe you betted on who would hug me first." I say, stepping out of Virgil's hug to go sit beside Shana on a bench. The roof is still beautiful, flowers in full bloom because it's the end of spring and most of winter's effects were gone.

"I would have won too if Idiot there hadn't tripped me." Dale grouched, quickly sitting beside me to Virgil's dismay.

"Hey that's my line!" Shana protests and I smile at her antics.

"Did something happen in school today?" I can't help asking.

The three of them look at me with fond looks.

Shana facepalms. "How did you not see it? Flyers are everywhere. It's on the school board and posters are in every corner of the school."

"Hey!" I protest. "Just answer my question." I pout, I'm definitely not telling them I never looked up once after I got to school except when I was at my locker.

"The Spring Dance is coming up."

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Chương 22: ~°~Chapter Twenty-two~°~

"The Spring Dance?" I repeat with wide eyes. "That's so cool, who will you go with Shana?"

Shana's eyes twinkled and she looks past me to wink at Virgil and Dale. "You of course!" She exclaimes, throwing her arms around my neck.

"W-What?" I splutter, going rigid in intense shock. "M-Me?"

"Of course!* She agrees excitedly, leaning back to look at my red face. "Or do you have someone else you want to ask out?" She asks and I choke.

The truth was that I hadn't even thought about it because I never planned on getting a date, I was even having second thoughts about going for the dance, I'd have preferred to stay home, curled up on a couch with a novel and Apple with me.

"Um…" I look behind me at the two boys that had suddenly gone quiet, I'm not surprised at the dangerous looks on their faces but the intensity makes me shiver.

I gulp, "Okay."

"You agreed?!!" Virgil and Dale yell simultaneously.

I blink at this. "Why not?"

Shana cuts them off before they can reply to me, throwing a possessive arm over my shoulder. "Why you two were being morons I simply did the sane thing and just asked." She gloats.

They transfer their looks to her, an identical glare on their handsome faces.

"Traitor." Virgil mumbles under his breath.

"Hey now, you never said I couldn't ask him."

I just purse my lips and watch them have a full conversation about 'me' over my head.

"We never thought you wanted to!" Dale exclaims.

"Well I might be willing to retract my offer for a fitting price." She smirks and I'm just done with them all.

"I'm not an object to be bartered off." I say stiffly, taking Shana's arm off my shoulders. "I wasn't even planning on going for it if Shana hadn't said she'd be my date." I cross my arms and pin each of them a look, slightly satisfied with the look of contrition on their faces.

"I haven't even made up my mind about my date yet, it's definitely not Shana seeing how she just wants to use me as currency…"

"Hey!" Shana objects, pouting.

"But it's true isn't it?"

"But I'm not off your list right?" Virgil asks in that serious tone of his that shouldn't be used for questions like this.

My cheeks go up in flames. "W-What? Y-You wa-want t-to take m-me to t-the da-dance?" I stutter out in absolute shock - what the hell is happening??

While gays were accepted in Pine Creek High - sorta - People weren't exactly open about it so Virgil's word stunned me.

"Not just him." Dale adds seriously then he breaks into a wide grin. "But we're going to let you pick who would take you now, because we don't want you to feel objectified.

I stand, gaping for a couple, very still seconds. Wait, what? 'now?'

"Now!?" I exclaim, recovering quickly as the implications of his words hit me. "Y-You weren't going to le-let me pick, before?"

They share guilty expressions and I want to scream.

"But now we are." Virgil insists when he gets a good look at my murderous expression. "So pick." He says innocently enough but I can hear the gloat in his voice.

"With the both of you as my only options?" I raise an eyebrow, unamused. "Who says I don't want someone else."

"Well you said that you didn't want to go anyway so how could you want someone else?" He asks, eyes dark.

I purse my lips at his logical reasoning, they have me backed up against the wall and knowing Virgil if I said I didn't want to come anymore, he'd find a way to make me come.

I go quiet to let their request sink in and my eyes widen. Pick! One of them?? - I think I'm hyperventilating.

I look to Shana for help but she has her phone out, probably recording the entire scene to show my mom. I don't even question this, already used to her antics.

The tension is thick as they wait for my answer, with how competitive they can be I can't imagine what would happen if I actually picked one. I still didn't know what their bet was about, honestly I'm slightly terrified to know.

I look from Virgil's grim expression to Dale's anxious but expectant look - 'I-I can't do it.'

"I-I… I c-can't pi-pick." I whisper, looking down.

It's the truth and it's not because I'm trying to be nice but because I genuinely do not know who I want to pick. 'When did I start falling for Dale too?'

"Then we'll do it the old-fashioned way." Dale drawls leaning back against the wall with his hands behind his head.

"W-What?" I look up at them again, my blush fading in my confusion.

An evil light comes into Virgil's eyes, his posture is still tense and I'm definitely sure he's very unhappy with the entire situation. "I agree."

"Hell no!" Shana stands up abruptly, eyeing the both of them wearily like she expects them to pull out guns and challenge each other to a duel. "There will be none of that, don't even consider it!"

"None of what? Consider what?" I parrot in confusion, looking up at Shana.

"These two idiots want to fight it out." Shana tsks, still giving them the evil eye.

My mouth drops open again and I'm shell-shocked for what must be the third time this morning and the bell hasn't even been rung yet.

"F-Fight? W-Why wo-would y-you wa-want t-to f-fight?" I stutter, incredulous, my gold-brown hair waving around me in my intensity. "Y-You c-co-could g-get h-hurt." I stutter harder, getting so angry that I'm finding it difficult to breathe.

Shana quickly pulls me into a tight hug, trying to distract me with the pressure. "What is wrong with you two?" She sasses them in exasperation. "You keep getting Hayden caught in the middle of your contest of wills."

The bell rings before anyone can say a thing.

"Let's get to class." Virgil says tightly, looking like he wants to punch somebody's face in.

We quietly get the stuff we brought up and start down, the tension in the air only thickens and I slip my hand out of Shana's hold to latch on to Virgil's hand, he quickly grabs it like a lifeline.

Shana subtly nods to me because we both know that Virgil is literally a live wire when he gets mad, very few things get Virgil mad but Dale manages to do this effortlessly and often by just simply existing.

The hallway is bustling as students hurry to get to their classes but as soon as we walk down the stairs, the entire hallway goes quiet, everyone turning to look in our direction.

I cringe into myself at the attention but Virgil just holds me tighter, almost pulling me behind him with how close he holds me.

We don't stop walking but the noise only increases, I don't blame them. Virgil and Dale are prodigies in their own rights not to talk about Shana who is an entire social system on her own but all this is very bad for my mental health.

I'm looking down at my sneakers again, leaving all the navigating to Virgil so I don't know what's happened to make the hushed whisper double in intensity, that is until I hear her voice.

"I've been looking all over for you Virgil." She says in her crisp, upper crust British accent.

Elise.

That one name was enough to drive shivers down most people's back, she was the Ice Queen as the entire school preferred to call her and looked like one too. She was always dressed in colors of whites and ice blue, her platinum blonder hair in glorious waves all around her.

"Now you see me, what do you want?" Virgil asks coldly, he knows it's better to just humor her or there would be hell to pay, literally.

"Don't be like that V, I just thought I should be the one to inform you as the Chairman of the committee handling the Spring Dance."

I blink, 'The Chairman of the Spring Dance? Is a student?? Is that even possible.

"I already know about the dance, Elise." Virgil says stiffly, tucking me closer to him. "Is that all?"

That small action dragged her icy blue eyes to me and she scowls darkly, her two hench-girls behind her doing the same like they were mind controlled.

"What's this?" She asks in disgust, while looking in my direction and Virgil squeezes my wrist so tight I'm scared it'll snap.

Shana replies before he can. "Oy! Blind bitch! That's a person." She warns in a dark voice, I can feel Dale trembling behind me.

Elise doesn't even react to the name calling, already angry with Virgil for treating her so coldly so she decides to pour her wrath on me, irritated with how close Virgil holds me.

"I just want to know why this low life thing has his dirty claws all over V." She says loudly in a clear voice, emphasizing on 'thing'

A gasp tears through the hall and it suddenly turns deadly quiet, everyone is looking at me.